Sterile Processing Technician

Emory Healthcare•Atlanta, GA

5d•$23 - $27

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Technician receives contaminated supplies and instruments from patient care areas and determines appropriate cleaning, wrapping, and sterilization methods. The role assembles surgical instrument trays and special procedure trays for complex surgeries, and delivers sterilized items to the operating room. It also involves using computer systems to scan instrument tray PIC tickets and case cart protocols, operating cleaning and sterilization equipment, restocking supplies, and taking inventory of sterile instrument pans and trays. The technician monitors sterilization equipment by testing and recording indicators, may retrieve contaminated items and collect sharps containers for proper disposal, and assists with staff training in surgical instrument identification. The position requires prioritizing assignments and adjusting workflow to meet operational needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Two years of experience in a sterile processing environment.
Registration as a Central Service Technician.
Some experience with computer software.
Ability to lift equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

Receive soiled or contaminated supplies and instruments from patient care areas.
Determine appropriate methods for cleaning, wrapping, and sterilizing medical and surgical instruments, equipment, and needles.
Assemble surgical instrument trays and pans and deliver sterilized items to the operating room.
Assemble special procedure trays for complex surgeries, including open heart, transplant, major orthopedic, neurosurgical, laparoscopic, and spine procedures.
Use a computer to scan PIC tickets on instrument trays and case cart protocols.
Operate cleaning and sterilization equipment, including washers, sterilizers, sonic cleaners, and cart washers.
Restock prep areas with supplies and take inventory of sterile instrument pans and trays.
Retrieve contaminated equipment, supplies, trays, and instruments from patient care areas for cleaning and sterilization, as needed.
Collect needles and sharps containers from the operating room for proper disposal, as needed.
Test and record indicators to monitor sterilization equipment.
Assist in training staff to identify surgical instruments and individual pans.
Prioritize assignments and adjust workflow to meet the most important needs.
Perform related responsibilities as required.